PREFACE. 



During the 17th Session, 1908-1909, the total number of 

 attendances at the Meetings of the British Ornithologists' 

 Chib was 381 ; this included 3 1 5 Members and 66 Visitors, 

 showing an average of 42 per Meeting, and a slight increase 

 as compared with the previous Session. 



Among the more important communications to be found 

 in the present volume are descriptions of the new species 

 procured by Herr Rudolf Grauer among the high forests in 

 the \acinity of Lakes Edward and Tanganyika. These were 

 described by Mr. Walter Rothschild, Dr. E. Hartert, and 

 Prof. Neumann (see pages 6-13, 42, and 102). There are 

 likewise descriptions of a number of new species from the 

 vicinity of Lake Chad, which have from time to time been 

 communicated by Mr. Boyd Alexander (see pages 15, 16, 

 and 33), and of a number of new forms found among the 

 large collections made by Dr. W. J. Ansorge in Angola and 

 Benguella (see pages 44-47). 



The annual Lantern-slide night, which was held at the 

 April Meeting, proved highly interesting ; the photographs 

 of Terns by Mr. W. Bickerton, as well as those shown by 

 Mr. Bentley Beetham, being especially admired, likewise the 

 animated pictures of birds exhibited by Mr. Oliver G. Pike. 



On pages 88-93 will be found an interesting account 

 of the efforts which have been made to preserve the Kites 

 (^Milvus idinus) which still exist in Wales. 



(Signed) W. R. OGILVIE-GRANT, 



Editor. 

 August IQth, 1909. 



